This gorgeous summer house of Consuelo Castiglione, the Marni designer in Formentera, Spain. It has the charm of contrasts “well balanced” refinement and roughness, smoothness and hippie chic tone. ”A kind of African paradise”

beautiful shots of l’arc de triomphe among rust-coloured and rustling leaves, café chairs in the late-afternoon sun and a carpet of fallen leaves in the jardin des tuileries, pale roses in an antique shop window, and the extravagant splendour that is autumn in Paris . . . {roséline}

Dawn was breaking and warm colours streaked the horizon, a preview of the beautiful day ahead.

My Greek Island Home is a memoir of Claire’s daily life in a village on the island of Lesvos.

Feeling exhausted by her life’s hectic pace in London, Claire captures her journey to living a more simple life in the rugged beauty of a traditional Greek island village that has led to a sense of peace and the return of her creative drive.

… endless sun, calming white-washed walls, salt-sharp air,

the tinkle of goat bells and the musical chatter of buzzing, outdoor village life.

The Book

My Greek Island Home describes Claire’s journey to a small village in Greece – the ancient land of gods and poets, where the seasons govern a way of life that has barely changed over thousands of years. Accompanied by Claire’s stunning photographs filled with colour and light, this inspirational story of reconnecting with nature and community, and finding beauty in the smallest details, will make you see the world anew.

Artist, designer and photographer Claire Lloyd had a successful career in London, a beautiful apartment and a life filled with excitement and travel. However, she was beginning to feel exhausted by her life’s hectic pace. One day a chance conversation with a friend led her to the Greek island of Lesvos, where she finally found what she was looking for – a sense of peace and the return of her creative drive.

It draws on the importance of community living in a time when the world feels so disjointed. Frank, intimate and beautifully photographed, My Greek Island Home is about making a home in a strange land and discovering the joy of nature and creativity. It introduces us to the locals of Lesvos and their traditions, explores the intricate rituals of daily life. Armchair travelers will be transported by Claire’s evocative descriptions and photography of the food, people and places of Lesvos, while actual travelers will discover a wealth of new ideas for their next trip.

About Claire Lloyd

Claire Lloyd was born in Australia, and moved to London in her early twenties after two and a half years as an art director at Australian Vogue. In London she worked at The World of Interiors and then as an art director for the launch of the British edition of W magazine. From there she built a stellar career in magazines, film, video, books and property. Her first book, Sensual Living, showed readers how to create a home that stimulates all the senses. Claire lives in Greece with her partner and a large number of animals.

{Images & source: photography by Claire Lloyd. Visit Claire’s delightful blog, Claire Lloyd loves and her website. There is an extract from the book published in The Australian here.}

~ I want to escape for a dream weekend in a Sleep in the City boutique hotel in Belgium.

Situated in the Antwerp fashion district, just a street away from the Mode Museum, Sleep in the City is a trio of “shopping apartments”, designed to be your home away from home—while you shop. Owners Bert Verschueren and Vincent Defontainers have created stylish interiors using a collection of vintage furniture. They have an elegance and different colour schemes.

Sleep in the City apartment 10

Sleep in the City apartment 11

With beautiful rooms themed in contrasting back and white with a splash of modern elegance,

My Gwinganna water bottle accompanied me as I volunteered to help with the clean up on the weekend. I was grateful for my water bottle and holder as trooped around homes and streets that needed help. So Gwinganna was there helping too.

And they have organised a Journey Outreach event. They have invited anyone affected by the floods, and the emergency services personnel to attend free of charge to be a guest at the Gold Coast Journey Intensive. It will be held at The Radisson Resort, 29 – 30 January.

I first experienced Gwinganna as part of my healing process after my mother passed away. It was cathartic and special. A place to de-stress, revitalise and be pampered, I have always intended to go back, and have encouraged my friends to go.

For those of you who don’t know anything about Gwinganna…

High on a plateau on 500 acres in a hidden region of the Tallebudgera Valley, the promise of abundance and calm beckons. Since the dawn of time, this place has watched in silence as the weather changes sweep from the south and the west.

Surrounded by ocean and valley views, this land’s inhabitants and visitors have listened to the silence of the bush for eternity. The Aboriginal people were the original custodians of the region. It was they who gave name to the place. Gwinganna translates to ‘lookout’, aptly named given its position offering views from Moreton Bay to Coolangatta.

Several contemporary, environmentally sensitive buildings house the luxury cabin-style accommodation on the bush property. There are a few character-filled older buildings, including a century-old church, a quaint timber grandstand and an old-fashioned store selling modern luxuries.

The latest addition to this expanding retreat is the multi-million-dollar 33-room spa complex, comprising a crystal steam room and custom-designed treatment rooms, an elevated outdoor deck and a lounge area that overlooks the native garden.